From Museums to Baguettes to Lavender to Sun: Exploring All France Has to Offer

Trip Length: 30 Days / 29 Nights

Trip Type: Food & Art — City Inspiration, Countryside Calm, Seaside Light

Best For: Everyone — couples, families, creatives, slow seekers

Best Seasons: All year; Spring/Autumn are ideal; Summer is vibrant and busy

Getting Around: Trains (TGV/TER) + occasional local buses/taxis

✨ Introduction – The Story Behind the Journey

France is where romance meets rhythm: café mornings, museum afternoons, golden-hour picnics, and lavender-scented markets. We’ve visited multiple times and recently lived here for a month. For Jena, it feels like home — she studied the language and culture, and loves its calm, connected cadence. From Parisian boulevards to Provençal villages and the sparkle of the Côte d’Azur, this slow, month-long itinerary invites creativity, connection, and everyday delight.

Trip Overview

Destinations / Flow: Paris (Days 1–7) → Loire Valley (Amboise base) (Days 8–12) → Provence (Avignon/Luberon base) (Days 13–20) → Côte d’Azur (Nice base) (Days 21–29) → Paris (Day 30)

Journey Pace: Slow and sensory — food and art at the center

Highlights: Louvre & Orsay, Seine strolls, boulangeries, châteaux cycling, Clos Lucé in Amboise, hill towns of Provence, lavender and markets, seaside swims, Nice weekend market with lavender ice cream and socca

🗺️ Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Destination / Title	Theme
1	Arrive Paris – Settle & Stroll	Land & Orient
2	Paris – Île de la Cité & Seine	History & Flow
3	Paris – Louvre & Tuileries	Art & Air
4	Paris – Montmartre	Views & Village
5	Paris – Orsay & Saint‑Germain	Impression & Intuition
6	Paris – Marais & Markets	Taste & Texture
7	Paris – Free Day	Wander & Wonder
8	Paris → Amboise (Loire Valley)	Tracks & Châteaux
9	Amboise & Clos Lucé (Da Vinci)	Genius & Gardens
10	Loire – Chenonceau	Bridges & Blooms
11	Loire – Chambord & Cheverny	Scale & Stories
12	Loire – River Day & Local Wine	Ease & Terroir
13	Loire → Avignon (Provence)	Southbound
14	Avignon & Pont d’Avignon	Stone & Song
15	Luberon – Gordes & Roussillon	Hills & Ochre
16	L’Isle‑sur‑la‑Sorgue & Markets	Antiques & Streams
17	Arles & Van Gogh Walk	Art & Sun
18	Provence – Lavender / Vineyards	Scent & Slow Roads
19	Pont du Gard / Uzès	Arches & Arcades
20	Provence – Free Day	Rest & Reset
21	Avignon → Nice (Côte d’Azur)	Sea Light
22	Nice – Old Town & Promenade	Citrus & Sea
23	Nice Weekend Market: Socca & Lavender Ice Cream	Taste & Color
24	Day Trip – Villefranche & Eze	Cliffs & Cobblestone
25	Day Trip – Antibes / Cap d’Antibes	Fort & Blue Bays
26	Day Trip – Menton or Cannes	Citrons or Cinema
27	Nice – Museum Day (Matisse/Chagall)	Modern Muses
28	Nice – Free Day (Swim & Sketch)	Salt & Sketch
29	Nice – Sunset Picnic	Light & Connection
30	Nice → Paris (Return) & Depart	Carry It Home

🌞 Day-by-Day Journey

Day 1 – Arrive Paris – Settle & Stroll

Check into a boutique apartment. Evening river stroll along the Seine; baguette, cheese, and fruit picnic by the water.

Day 2 – Île de la Cité & Seine

Notre‑Dame surroundings, Sainte‑Chapelle’s stained glass, and Île Saint‑Louis ice cream. Sunset walk on the bridges.

Day 3 – Louvre & Tuileries

Morning at the Louvre (arrive early). Tuileries garden chairs for café journaling; Rue de Rivoli pastry pause.

Day 4 – Montmartre

Climb to Sacré‑Cœur, artists’ square, and side streets. Find a tiny boulangerie; sketch with a view.

Day 5 – Orsay & Saint‑Germain

Impressionists at Musée d’Orsay, then Saint‑Germain cafés and bookstores. Evening wine bar.

Day 6 – Marais & Markets

Marché des Enfants Rouges lunch, vintage shops, hidden courtyards. Late‑day park time at Place des Vosges.

Day 7 – Free Day in Paris

Walk without a plan. Optional day trip to Versailles or canal‑side cycling. Early night before travel.

Day 8 – Paris → Amboise (Loire Valley)

TGV/TER to Amboise. Settle in riverside town; golden‑hour walk along the Loire.

Day 9 – Amboise & Clos Lucé (Leonardo da Vinci)

Explore Château d’Amboise and Clos Lucé gardens with Da Vinci’s models; picnic under plane trees.

Day 10 – Château de Chenonceau

Train/bike combo to Chenonceau. Arched galleries over the river, memorial gardens, forested paths.

Day 11 – Chambord & Cheverny

Day trip to Chambord’s grand staircase, then Cheverny’s elegant estate. Local goat cheese and Sancerre for dinner.

Day 12 – River Day & Local Wine

Slow morning market, bike along the Loire, cellar tasting. Early train prep for Provence.

Day 13 – Amboise → Avignon (Provence)

South by train. Evening wander inside Avignon’s ramparts; papal palace views at dusk.

Day 14 – Avignon & Pont d’Avignon

Old streets, covered market tastings, and the bridge’s song. Afternoon rest; dinner in a shaded square.

Day 15 – Luberon: Gordes & Roussillon

Bus/tour transfer or rental for the day. Hilltop Gordes, then Roussillon’s ochre trail and pastel doors.

Day 16 – L’Isle‑sur‑la‑Sorgue & Markets

Waterside antiques, Provençal linens, café lunch by the canals. Bring your reusable tote.

Day 17 – Arles & Van Gogh Walk

Roman amphitheater, yellow Café terrace, and museum stops. Golden light that inspired the masters.

Day 18 – Lavender / Vineyards (seasonal)

If in bloom, seek Valensole/Sault area tours; otherwise, vineyard visits and olive mills. Slow-country roads and viewpoints.

Day 19 – Pont du Gard / Uzès

Walk the ancient aqueduct and wander elegant Uzès arcades. Lemon tart reward.

Day 20 – Provence Free Day

Rest by a pool or return to a favorite village. Sunset apéritif, long conversation.

Day 21 – Avignon → Nice (Côte d’Azur)

Train to the sea. Check into a boutique apartment near Old Town.

Day 22 – Nice Old Town & Promenade

Cours Saleya flowers and fruit, Promenade des Anglais walk, Castle Hill views.

Day 23 – Weekend Market: Socca & Lavender Ice Cream

Sample hot socca from the pan; try lavender ice cream. Picnic with market finds.

Day 24 – Villefranche & Eze Day Trip

Train to Villefranche‑sur‑Mer for a swim; bus up to Eze for cliffside gardens and views.

Day 25 – Antibes / Cap d’Antibes

Pablo Picasso museum, ramparts, and a coastal path. Late swim in quiet coves.

Day 26 – Menton or Cannes

Choose pastel Menton (citrons, gardens) or glamorous Cannes (La Croisette walk).

Day 27 – Museum Day in Nice

Matisse and Chagall museums; café sketching session. Evening gelato and people‑watching.

Day 28 – Free Day in Nice

Swim, read, sketch. Sunset stones‑on‑the‑beach meditation.

Day 29 – Sunset Picnic

Gather bread, cheese, fruit, and olives. Sit seaside; let time slow down.

Day 30 – Nice → Paris & Depart

Morning train or short flight to Paris for onward travel. Carry the cadence home.

🌿 Local Wisdom & Connection

Walk Without a Plan: Let side streets and river paths show you the city’s gentler heartbeat.

Boulangerie Ritual: Fresh bread in the morning; a pastry shared in a nearby square.

Converse Kindly: A simple “Bonjour / Bonsoir” and “Merci” goes a long way; slow down and savor.

Rivers & Seas: Seine at dusk; Loire at golden hour; Mediterranean at sunrise — each invites reflection.

🏡 Stays & Lodging Style

Boutique apartments in walkable neighborhoods (Paris, Nice)

Charming town flats in Amboise near the river

Provençal courtyard apartments or small gîtes near village centers

🚆 Getting Around (Trains & Transfers)

Primary Mode: TGV/TER trains between regions; local buses or short taxis from stations.

Key Legs (approx.): Paris → Amboise/Tours 1–2h; Tours → Avignon TGV ~4–5h; Avignon → Nice ~3–4h; Nice → Paris 5.5–6h (or short flight).

Tips: Book major TGVs in advance; validate TER tickets where required; travel light for easier station transfers.

🎒 Packing with Intention

Comfy walking shoes; refillable water bottle; reusable tote for markets; light layers and a scarf; compact umbrella; journal and pen; small daypack.

🌅 Reflection & Closing

May France meet you with warmth and wonder. Move slowly, speak a little French, and you’ll find generous connection in markets, on trains, and along rivers. Leave feeling part of its living culture — inspired, nourished, and gently expanded.

Live Wild. Create With Intention. Tell Stories That Matter.

A pre-traveled, pre-curated journey by Harmony in the Wild — Greg & Jena Pomeroy.